The 2004 Chrysler Pacifica was the first model year for this vehicle. The Pacifica is considered a crossover, between a sedan and a sport-utility vehicle. In 2004, only one trim level of the Pacifica was produced. If you run across an issue with the Pacifica starting properly, there are a couple of things that you can troubleshoot at home before looking into the possibility of more expensive repairs.
Check your battery. If your battery is more than three or four years old, it may need replacing. If it's a newer battery, it may have become drained and needs to be recharged. To check your battery, turn the key in the ignition to the "On" position, but don't try to start the Pacifica. Try to turn on the lights or the windshield wipers. If they don't come on, your battery is dead or drained. Open up the hood on your Pacifica and look at the battery cable connections. In many cases, corrosion, rust or even dirt will cause a bad connection to the battery. Clean off the battery with a rag if possible. If the corrosion is bad, you may need to chisel some of it off before attempting to clean it.
Check out your dash. With the key still in the "On" position, look at the dash of your Pacifica to see if it's alerting you to a specific issue. It may have a gas light, oil light or check-engine light that's letting you know that it has detected a problem. Never drive a car that has no gas or oil, as you could cause severe damage.
Turn the key in the ignition. If you hear a clicking noise, this indicates that the starter has gone bad and will need to be replaced. If the starter works and the car starts for a brief moment, listen for a knocking noise or examine whether you feel a jerking movement. Jerking indicates that you're low on fuel and may not have a gas gauge that's working properly to alert you to this. A knocking noise can indicate a bigger problem within the engine of your Pacifica and will need to be further diagnosed.
